Spectra Energy official says pipeline will have no impact on Jersey City animal shelter

Contrary to the claims of officials at a Jersey City animal shelter, the spokeswoman for the Texas company building a natural gas pipeline that will run through Bayonne, Jersey City, and offshore Hoboken said this afternoon the pipeline will have no adverse impact on the shelter.

"There are no planned surface activities along this part of the route that will uproot any building or inhibit the Liberty Humane Society standard day-to-day activities," said Spectra spokeswoman Marylee Hanley. "In fact Spectra Energy is utilizing a very sophisticated technique called 'road boring,' which occurs underground, causing no surface impact.

"Spectra Energy plans on reaching out first thing Monday morning to set up a meeting to discuss the project's planned routes and how we have already addressed their concerns," Hanley added.

Over the weekend, officials of the Liberty Humane Society, which is located on city-owned land on Jersey City Boulevard outside Liberty State Park, sent an email to supporters stating that "planned construction (by Spectra) would make it impossible for LHS to comply with state law and permanently limit our capacity to expand."

"Please spread the word, donate to defray legal costs associated with fighting this invasion, and show your support for Liberty Humane Society by signing our petition," the message adds.

Shelter officials said they were told by workers taking soil samples at the property that work could start within two weeks.

The Jersey Journal broke the news on Friday that the route of Spectra's natural gas pipeline, which received a final OK from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in May, goes right through the backyard of the LHS shelter. City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill confirmed that Spectra had filed court papers to go to court to seize the land via eminent domain.

Hanley said she was "unaware" of any eminent domain proceedings.

"Spectra Energy Corporation has been granted the right of eminent domain over LHS's property. They plan to begin extensive construction on site in as little as two weeks, which would totally disable LHS from pursuing its mission," officials of the Jersey City animal shelter wrote in the email to supporters.

The scope of the action by Spectra would cripple LHS by "breaching the fence that protects our animals; displacing the trailers needed for food storage; requiring the removal of the 'Neuter Scooter,' where medical and euthanasia services are performed," according to the email sent by LHS officials.

"If the Spectra construction goes forward, the dogs would have to be kept in their indoor cages AT ALL TIMES, which is both a violation of state regulations and inhumane," the email adds, noting an 18-month construction timeline.

The 20-mile pipeline will travel through Bayonne, Jersey City, and offshore Hoboken.